Page 52 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

He turned to me. “You’ve known all along, haven’t you?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“The riddle… it’s not about war. The deadliest game isn’t politics or war.”

“Then what is it?”

Keanu slowly put his hands on my waist, drawing me closer to him. “It’s what I’m afraid to do,” he replied. Color tinged his cheeks. “Falling in love is a deadlier game than any of this… for me and for you.”

He does know what the riddle means!

“Because, one way or another, we’ll both lose our hearts,” he said. “I can’t bear to think of hurting you, Oliana. I thought I could fool you into loving me, but that only hurts more. I don’t want to lie to you, and I’m afraid to get closer to you. When I left the other week, I hoped the distance would make me forget about you.”

A lump formed in my throat.

“But I realized I only missed you more. I only wanted to spend more time with you. I feel as though we’re strangers, yet at the same time, you’re a stranger I would die for over and over again.” He stroked my cheek with his thumb. “I would die for you, Oliana. But that is foolishness. I realize now I must live for you too, and we cannot waste any more time.”

“You really did know the meaning of the riddle all along?” I still couldn’t believe it. “What about becoming one with the shadow? Do you know what that means?”

Keanu pursed his lips and looked away.

I paused, then, “Your service must be willing, Keanu…”

“And what of the eternal flame?” he asked. “Is that not something you must do? If I become a night marcher and willingly serve, how will I know that the eternal flame will be lit for me?”

I hadn’t gotten that far. What was the eternal flame anyways? Could someone like me light it for him? Where? When?

The waves washed on the shore in the distance below and a cool salty breeze gently blew my hair.

Keanu sighed and rubbed my shoulder, returning to the topic of us. “I kept thinking I could prove myself wrong, but… being out here showed me the truth. The deadliest game is love… not one way, but mutual. Do you love me, Oliana?” I’d never seen him so vulnerable.

I broke eye contact to give myself a moment.

Think, Oli, think! Did I love him? I found him incredibly attractive. I missed him when he was gone. But I did not know him. We were still strangers, and he even pointed that out himself.

My hesitation was an answer, and Keanu nodded. “Perhaps you could learn to love a beast like myself? The man who robbed you of your days, the man who does not deserve your affection, yet I still ask for it?” His voice was full of hurt, not caused by me, but by himself.

“Show me,” I said, taking his arms and drawing closer to him. “My days are wearing thin, Keanu. I don’t think I love you now, but… I want to.”

The corner of Keanu’s lip turned up and he nodded. “I will show you, then, my wife. And, perhaps, you might just return my feelings.”

Was he saying he loved me? He didn’t say it outright, but butterflies were exploding in my stomach. My legs grew weak, and, before I could think of what to say or do next, Keanu leaned in and kissed me. If there were a thousand ways one could bottle passion into a singular moment, it was all in that kiss. I melted into him, loving and hating everything about this.

Because, at the end of the day, one of us would have to become one with the shadow and it should be him…

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THREE DAYS LEFT

“Have you ever done this before?” I asked as I stepped into the water, feeling the warm waves caressing my skin.

Keanu examined the spear in his hand, then shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”

I glanced at the midday sun, grateful for the nice weather and the crystal blue water ahead of us. Two islands sat in the distance, and I had no doubt we’d eventually swim to one of them.

Keanu stood next to me, and, for the briefest moment, I saw a smile on his face. It was filled with peace and calm, an expression that seemed so foreign after all we’d been through.

After we returned from the war camp, the last couple of days were busy with funerals and burial ceremonies. Meeting with and comforting widows. My eyes grew watery each time we met the families mourning the loss of their loved ones.